Tiffany Blanchet

First Name: 
Tiffany
Last Name: 
Blanchet
Mentor: 
Dr. Megan Morrissey
Abstract: 
This study engages in an ideological rhetorical critique of President Donald Trump’s remarks at the border states during his presidency. This purpose of this study is to understand how presidential rhetoric (specifically a focus on the ideograph “Make America Great Again”) can produce racial ideologies and formations that profoundly impact the public’s attitude about particular groups. I want to demonstrate how President Trump’s use of the “Make America Great Again” (“MAGA”) ideograph reinforces racial discrimination through the very language he circulates in the public sphere. I analyzed these remarks and identified three particular themes: • National security vs. homeland security, • Disembodiment and dehumanization • Representation of whiteness in President Trump’s speeches. These themes reflect how President Trump utilizes his credibility, and the cultural ideograph “MAGA” to negatively racialize Hispanic immigrants. Furthermore, his promotion of negative cultural attitudes makes the issues of immigration more difficult to talk about and can even incite violence towards immigrants, and/or people who are perceived as immigrants.
Poster: 
“Make America Great Again”: An Ideological Rhetorical Critique